The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-23
HE WAS A 1eNpERFooE
How Fly and Much Travelled Young
Man Was Imposcd Upon,

Man Was 1mposcd Upon.
To q native Californian who has
spent his life in the mines, the ''tender-
heel" or ''groenhorn"-.the fresh, un-
sophisticated young man from the East
is an object of interest. The Cali
fornian who has grown to consider the
golden West his own broad empire and
the greenhorn legitimate spoil, begins
to set snares and traps for him as soon
us he discovers that he is u stranger in
the land ofgold. Every man who comes
from the East is not greenhorn. But
every now and then simple, unsus.
pecting youth will drop into scamp"
and ask questions about every thing
he sees and hears. These are the vic
tins of the miners guile, and they
generally Ego through their paces,"
unwillingly enough, but much to the
delight of the "natives."
Several years ago one of these green
horns visited North San Juan. He
boarded the stage at SmArtsville, and
all along the route he kept up rattling
conversation with the driver, who was
none other than Mr.. s., the owner
Of the line. The young man had
travelled, he had. and he was fly. He
had gathered olives in Italy, and had
washed his feet in tho Arno; he had
made love to beautiful girl in the
vineyards of France, and he had been
cavalier servante in Seville. He had
viewed Melrose Abbey "in the soft
twilight" and he had handled the
bolas on the pampas of Brazil. In
fact. he was a very much travelled
young man. and his knowledge of the
world surpassed conjecture. He was
"bleed" all through, and he wanted
the driver of the trans-Smartville and
Juanental stage to remember it. But
the much travelled traveller had never
met Mr.. s. before, neither had he
ever been in the mining regions.
The driver listened patiently, and
sometimes reflected on the uncertainties
of life and the fitness of things mortal,
and wondered when the pcrsonified
tower Of Babel would fail down.
The fall came sooner than he ex.
pected. They We're passing through by
I'LL old claim. Rain had fallen the
night before. and in the hollows of the
bedrock were many pools of yellow,
muddy water. This excited the Curl
osity of the traveller from away back.
For the first time he turned to the
driver for information.
20. l say. What makes the water
SO yellow, you know?"
Mr.. SIS eyes lit up with dangerous
light, and he smiled inwardly as he
said: "That yaller water? Why,
that's gold that makes that water
yaller."
Jaw! gold! You don't say so. l
thought gold was-er-a solid, you
know"
$50 it air, when it's boiled down."
said Mr.. S. ats in solution, now."
The travellers eyes stuck out.
Do-aw-do you mean to say that
the gold in that water is-er-held in
suspension? Do they boil it downP"
"Certainly they do" said Mr.. S.
They scoop it up in buckets and haul it
to the boilin' works. Then it's boiled
and melted and shipped away"
The man of the world was puzzled.
He forgot to pose or smile his delicate
young mustache. Presently he said:
II should think it would be stolen if
left out in this way"
Mr.. S. turned to him and answered d
gravely: "Iry it. young man. There
allus guard here-at least. most allus;
but maybe he S gone to his dinner
now. ."he added. "Do you want to get
some of that gold?'
AS he asked the question he checked
his team, and the young man was
sorely tempted. II suppose now that
it wonld-er be grand larceny if they
caught it, wouldn'tP'
"Wus nor that" said Mr.. S. Then
in tragic whisper: "Young feller, it'd
be murder!'
The tenderheel from the pampas
turned pale.
"Would they hang me for it?"
"Well," said S., "that depends. You
might plead insanity"
"Oh" They drove on slowly and
entered the town. II say" said S.,
suddenly. II see the guard just now
lynn drunk in that saloon we passed.
Now, if You want some of that gold you
can go back and get it. Take big
bucket" he added, as the young man
climbed out. "Here, take mine," he
added, pointing to a huge one sitting
in front of an old we'll. The young
man was pale but determined, and as
he took the bucket S. called to him in a
genuine stage whisper: Remember
that we're partners
The young man who had washed his
feet in the Arno sped away, and S.
sped on into town. Meeting two
friends he told them of the would-be
thief and they agreed to give him
surprise. Aiming themselves with re-
peating rifles, they went down the road
and found their man. He was stand
ing by deep, slippery pool, and his
air ot determination was gone. So WAS
his hat and bucket. From all his gar
ments poured tiny streams of the
golden-hued solution. His teeth chat
Tered and his knees smotc together
Al